We were in the midst of shock but we acted. We acted quickly, boldly, decisively.
我们曾处于恐惧之中——但是我们采取了行动。我们迅速、大胆、果断地采取了行动。
These later years have been living years—fruitful years for the people of this democracy.
后来的这若干年一直是生气勃勃的年代——是这个民主国家的人民获得丰收的年代。
For they have brought to us greater security and, I hope, a better understanding that life's ideals are to be measured in other than material things.
因为这些年给我们带来了更大的安全,而且我希望,也带来了更好的认识、即生活的理想是用物质以外的东西来衡量的。
Most vital to our present and our future is this experience of a democracy which successfully survived crisis at home;
对我们的现在和未来而言,一个民主国家的这段经历是最重要的:它成功地度过了国内危机;
put away many evil things; built new structures on enduring lines; and, through it all, maintained the fact of its democracy.
它抛弃了许多邪恶的东西;它根据持久的路线建立了新的结构;而通过所有这些,它坚持了民主的实际。
For action has been taken within the three way framework of the Constitution of the United States.
这是因为,我们是在合众国宪法规定的三权分立的范围内采取行动的。
The coordinate branches of the Government continue freely to function. The Bill of Rights remains inviolate.
与政府并列的各个部门继续在自由地履行职能。权利法案依然不可侵犯。
The freedom of elections is wholly maintained. Prophets of the downfall of American democracy have seen their dire predictions come to naught.
选举自由完全得到了坚持。预言美国民主制度即将崩演的人已经发现,他们耸人听闻的预测变成了泡影。
Democracy is not dying. We know it because we have seen it revive—and grow.
民主不是在死亡。我们了解这一点,因为我们已经目睹它复苏过来——而且成长起来。
We know it cannot die—because it is built on the unhampered initiative of individual men and women joined together in a common enterprise
我们知道它不会死亡——因为它是建立在男男女女的不受压抑的主动精神上的,他们携手并肩地投入了一项共同的事业
an enterprise undertaken and carried through by the free expression of a free majority.
一项由享有自由的多数人通过自由表达来承担和完成的事业。
We know it because democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men's enlightened will.
我们知道民主不会死亡,因为在各种形式的政体中,唯独民主政体能充分发挥人类进步意志的力量。
We know it because democracy alone has constructed an unlimited civilization capable of infinite progress in the improvement of human life.
我们知道民主不会死亡,因为唯独民主制确立了没有任何约束的文明,它能在改善人类生活方面取得永无止境的进步。